第5部分(第4/7 页)

hat　my　grandfather　Reed　was　so　irritated　at　her　disobedience；　he　cut　her　off　without　a　shilling；　that　after　my　mother　and　father　had　been　married　a　year；　the　latter　caught　the　typhus　fever　while　visiting　among　the　poor　of　a　large　manufacturing　town　where　his　curacy　was　situated；　and　where　that　disease　was　then　prevalent：　that　my　mother　took　the　infection　from　him；　and　both　died　within　a　month　of　each　other。

Bessie；　when　she　heard　this　narrative；　sighed　and　said；　“Poor　Miss　Jane　is　to　be　pitied；　too；　Abbot。”

“Yes；”　responded　Abbot；　“if　she　were　a　nice；　pretty　child；　one　might　passionate　her　forlornness；　but　one　really　cannot　care　for　such　a　little　toad　as　that。”

“Not　a　great　deal；　to　be　sure；”　agreed　Bessie：　“at　any　rate；　a　beauty　like　Miss　Georgiana　would　be　more　moving　in　the　same　condition。”

“Yes；　I　doat　on　Miss　Georgiana！”　cried　the　fervent　Abbot。　“Little　darling！—with　her　long　curls　and　her　blue　eyes；　and　such　a　sweet　colour　as　she　has；　just　as　if　she　were　painted！—Bessie；　I　could　fancy　a　Welsh　rabbit　for　supper。”

“So　could　I—with　a　roast　onion。　e；　we’ll　go　down。”　They　went。

Chapter　4

From　my　discourse　with　Mr。　Lloyd；　and　from　the　above　reported　conference　between　Bessie　and　Abbot；　I　gathered　enough　of　hope　to　suffice　as　a　motive　for　wishing　to　get　well：　a　change　seemed　near；—I　desired　and　waited　it　in　silence。　It　tarried；　however：　days　and　weeks　passed：　I　had　regained　my　normal　state　of　health；　but　no　new　allusion　was　made　to　the　subject　over　which　I　brooded。　Mrs。　Reed　surveyed　me　at　times　with　a　severe　eye；　but　seldom　addressed　me：　since　my　illness；　she　had　drawn　a　more　marked　line　of　separation　than　ever　between　me　and　her　own　children；　appointing　me　a　small　closet　to　sleep　in　by　myself；　condemning　me　to　take　my　me